Sleeve puller

ABSTRACT

The Sleeve Puller enables a user to reversibly pull their sleeve or other garment down the length of their arm. The sleeve puller has a ring member that reversibly attaches to a user&#39;s finger or other stable member and a gripping means that attaches to a sleeve or other garment. When the user pulls the ring member, the sleeve travels down the length of the arm of the person wearing it assisting the wearer in dressing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/359,013 filed on Jul. 7, 2016.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

The inventor did not disclose the invention herein prior to the 12 month period preceding the filing of this provisional application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to a mechanical device that assists a user, including a person with physical limitations or disabilities, in putting on a coat, sweater, shirt or other garment over the arm(s). One end of the device clips onto a coat, sweater, shirt, garment or other undergarment and the other end is placed onto a finger or a stable member. The device maintains the shirt or undergarment in the correct position while the user inserts his or her arm through the sleeve of the garment.

(2) Description of Related Art

Many women and men become frustrated attempting to put a coat or sweater on over their shirt. Their shirt may pull up and bunch making it uncomfortable. People may have to stick their hand up into their sleeve as far as they can and pull on their shirt sleeve numerous times to free it so that it will lay properly along the arm. It can be particularly difficult for the elderly or handicapped, including many suffering from certain diseases and injuries, to put a sweater or coat over a shirt or other garment because the shirt rides up on the arm, twisting, rolling, and/or bunching up in an uncomfortable manner. The invention herein is a dressing device that aids a user in putting a sweater, coat or other garment over a shirt or other undergarment.

Previous devices have been developed to assist the elderly and handicapped individuals, and others dress themselves. Glanville (U.S. Pat. No. 3,231,160) discloses a device to aid a user in putting on his or her socks. The device includes a frame upon which a sock is placed. A user's heel is then inserted into said frame, then the user pulls up on the frame's handles, pulling the sock onto the user's foot. This device is cumbersome, difficult to use, and not suitable for the sleeve of a shirt.

Whitlaw (US 2011/0315724 A1) discloses a dressing aid that helps a user put on pants or trousers. The device includes one or more grip devices attached to connective material. The grip devices may be small clamp devices. The connective material may be rope or cord, or other material. The user places the pants within the gripping devices, and pulls onto the connective material to cause the pants to be pulled upon his person. This device would not assist a user in donning a shirt, coat, sweater, or other garment on the upper body.

Fox (US 2008/0217365 A1) discloses a dressing device comprising an elongated shaft including an upper end integral hook and a lower end including an integral hook. This device will assist a user in removing rolls, twists and gathers in clothing during the process of dressing and undressing, but will not prevent the formation of rolls, twists, gathers, and bunching. A device is needed that will actually prevent the formation of rolls, twists, gathers, and bunching. The device herein meets this need.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an top, angled view of the Sleeve Puller.

FIG. 2 depicts an exploded top, angled view of the Sleeve Puller.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the Sleeve Puller.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top, angled view of the Sleeve Puller.

FIG. 5 depicts a side view of the Sleeve Puller.

FIG. 6 depicts an end view of the Sleeve Puller.

FIG. 7 depicts a top view of the Sleeve Puller.

FIG. 8 illustrates a top, angled view of the Sleeve Puller with a silicone ring member.

FIG. 9 illustrates a top view of the Sleeve Puller with a silicone ring member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, several embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure should be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments so illustrated. Further, to the extent that any numerical values or other specifics of materials, et., are provided herein, they are to be construed as exemplifications of the inventions herein, and the inventions are not to be considered as limited thereto.

The following description and drawings are illustrative and are not to be construed as limiting. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to avoid obscuring the description. References to one, or an, embodiment in the present disclosure can be, but not necessarily are, references to the same embodiment; and, such references mean at least one of the embodiments.

Reference in this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments, but not other embodiments.

The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinary meanings in the art, within the context of the disclosure, and in the specific context where each term is used. Certain terms that are used to describe the disclosure are discussed below, or elsewhere in the specification, to provide additional guidance to the practitioner regarding the description of the disclosure. For convenience, certain terms may be highlighted, for example using italics and/or quotation marks. The use of highlighting has no influence on the scope and meaning of a ter; the scope and meaning of a term is the same, in the same context, whether or not it is highlighted. It will be appreciated that the same thing can be said in more than one way.

Consequently, alternative language and synonyms may be used for any one or more of the terms discussed herein, or is any special significance to be placed upon whether or not a term is elaborated or discussed herein. Synonyms for certain terms are provided. A recital of one or more synonyms does not exclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in this specification, including examples of any terms discussed herein, is illustrative only, and in no way limits the scope and meaning of the disclosure or of any exemplified ter. Likewise, the disclosure is not limited to various embodiments given in this specification.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. In the case of conflict, the present document, including definitions will control.

Embodiments of the present invention may include one or more of the following features.

FIG. 1 depicts a top, angled view of the Sleeve Puller. Key ring 2 slides over the user's finger. Key ring 2 may be composed of any suitable material including, but not limited to, metal, plastic, leather or bone. Key ring 2 may be circular, oblong or any suitable shape and size to comfortably fit over a user's finger. Cord 10 connects to key ring 2. Cord 10 may be nylon or any other suitable material that is elastic enough to allow the Sleeve Puller to expand in length, producing enough stretch to allow a shirt sleeve to remain in its relative position while a user is putting on a sweater, coat or other garment over said shirt. A number of hollow beads 3 from bead complex 4. Bead(s) 3 may be composed of metal, plastic, bone, semi-precious stone, precious stone, or any other suitable material. Bead(s) 3 may be of any suitable size and shape. Bead(s) 3 must be of sufficient number and size to create bead complex 4 of sufficient length. Bead complex 4 is strung onto cord 10. Cord 10 connects to jump ring 6. Jump ring 6 attaches to gripping means 8. Gripping means 8 may be an alligator clip, as shown, or any other means suitable for gripping a sleeve. Gripping means 8 is reversibly attached to a user's sleeve.

Cord 10 may be stretch magic elastic cording with a diameter of 0.7 mm. The total length of the Sleeve Puller may be approximately 5.5 inches. And, the stretched total length of the Sleeve Puller may be approximately 7.0 inches. Variation in the total length of Sleeve Puller in unstretched and stretched conformations may be utilized.

A user reversibly attaches key ring 2 onto their finger or other object and attaches gripping means 8 onto their sleeve or other garment before putting on their sweater, coat or other garment. The Sleeve Puller remains attached to the user and the sleeve throughout the process of putting on said sweater coat or garment, preventing the user's sleeve from rolling, twisting, gathering, or bunching. Once the user is dressed, the Sleeve Puller is removed.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded top, angled view of the Sleeve Puller. Cord 10 is shown unattached from key ring 2 and jump ring 6. Bead complex 4 is shown separated from cord 10. FIG. 3 depicts a top view of the Sleeve Puller. Bead complex 4 is may be assembled from a variety of bead(s) 3, which may be positioned with bead complex 4 in a number of orientations.

FIG. 4 depicts a top, angled view of the Sleeve Puller. Gripping means 8 is shown in a closed orientation. Gripping means 8 may be an alligator grip or an other means that reversibly opens and closes to grip a shirt sleeve. An alligator grip opens and closes when a user presses near the axis upon which the top and bottom halves meet. FIG. 5 depicts a side view of the Sleeve Puller. Gripping means 8 is in an open position and can accept a shirt sleeve. FIG. 6 depicts an end view of the Sleeve Puller. This view shows key ring 2 positioned in front of bead 3, which is positioned in front of gripping means 8. FIG. 7 depicts a top view of the Sleeve Puller. Ends of cord 10 may be formed into securing knots where cord 10 ties onto key ring 2. Cord 10 may attach to jump ring 6 via knots that may be visible. Cord 10 may be strung to make a continuous loop by stringing cord as follows: string cord 10 through 2 or more beads 3, e-looped through jump ring 6, threaded through all beads 3 of bead complex 4, looped through jump ring 6, threaded through 2 or more beads 3 of bed complex 4, and tied into a knot so that beads 3 hide said knot.

FIG. 8 illustrates a top, angled view of the Sleeve Puller of FIG. 1 wherein key ring 2 is replaced with silicone o-ring 22. FIG. 9 depicts a top view of the device of FIG. 8. O-ring 22 may be composed of clear silicone or other suitable material. O-ring 22 may be 33 mm in diameter or any suitable diameter to allow it to be fitted comfortably over a user's finger or over a rigid member. O-ring 22 is placed over a user's finger while gripping means 8 is placed onto the sleeve of a user's garment. Once o-ring 22 and gripping means 8 are correctly positioned, the user's or other person's arm is then easily and comfortably inserted into the sleeve of the garment. Additionally, o-ring 22 may be attached to a pulling means to secure the sleeve puller while the garment sleeve is being pulled down the arm of the person wearing the same.

Bead complex 4 is may be assembled from a variety of bead(s) 3, which may be positioned with bead complex 4 in a number of orientations. Cord 10, which couples o-ring 22 to gripping means 8, may attach to jump ring 6 via knots that may be visible. Additionally, cord 10 may be strung to make a continuous loop by stringing cord as follows: string cord 10 through 2 or more beads 3, e-looped through o-ring 22, threaded through all beads 3 of bead complex 4, looped through o-ring 22, threaded through 2 or more beads 3 of bed complex 4, and tied into a knot so that beads 3 hide said knot.

This device enables a disabled or handicapped user to dress himself or herself in a shirt or other sleeved garment. Certain users may not be able to self dress without the use of the Sleeve Puller. Due to the increased numbers of elderly and handicapped individuals in our society, the sleeve puller can reduce the need for a caregiver for the everyday chore of dressing oneself. 

I hereby claim: 1) A device for assisting a physically challenged individual in putting on a sleeved garment comprising: a gripping means that reversibly attaches to the sleeve of a garment; a ring member that reversibly attaches to a finger or other rigid member; a cord member that couples the gripping means to the ring member; wherein said cord member reversibly stretches in length. 2) The device of claim 1, wherein said cord member has a total length of 5.5 inches when unstretched and 7.0 inches when stretched. 3) The device of claim 1, wherein the gripping means comprising an alligator clip. 4) The device of claim 1, wherein the ring member comprises a silicone o-ring. 5) A method of placing a sleeve upon an arm comprising: placing the end of said sleeve onto a gripping means, placing the end of a ring member upon the finger of a user, wherein the gripping means is coupled to said ring member; pulling said sleeve onto said arm by pulling said ring member away from said arm until said sleeve is in the desired location. 